Device or appliance for treating or curing deformations of the foot.



E. w. SALT. v DEVICE 0R APPLIANCE FOR TREATING OE CURING DEFOBMATIONS OFTHE FOOT.

APPLICATION FILED HAYZO, 1911.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PMNOORAPH C0,, WASHINGTON, D. c.

. E. W. SALT.

DEVIGBOR APPLIANCE FOR TREATING 0R CURING DEI'OBMATIONS OF THE FOOT.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1911.

1,012,017. Patented Dec.19,1911.

2 sums-sum 2.

CDLUIIIA MIA," CO WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT onFroE.

EDWARD WILLIAM SALT, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

DEVICE OR APPLIANCE FOR TREATING OR CURING DEFORMA'IIONS OF THE FOOT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application filed May 20, 1911. Serial No. 628,498. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WILLIAM SALT, a subject of the Kingdom ofGreat Britain, residing at 5 Cherry street, Birmingham, in the county ofWarwick, England, orthopedic specialist, have invented a certain new anduseful Improved Device or Appliance for Treating or Curing Deformationsof the Foot, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises a new or improved device or appliance fortreating or curing deformations of the foot, and is particularly for usein the case of those deformations in which the foot While remaining flatassumes a position in which it turns or points inwardly or toward theother foot. Various appliances have been previously proposed for use intreatin this class of deformity by exerting an eflort tending to drawthe foot outwardly or into its proper position, but I have ascertainedthat the effort of such appliance is in fact transmitted at a pointconsiderably above the ankle as for instance at the calf or even at apoint as high as the thigh. I have furthermore ascertained that thedeformity with which my present invention deals does in fact occur at aposition intermediate to the ankle and the instep.

This invention is applicable in instances in which the foot whileremaining flat takes a position in which it turns or points outwardly inan excessive degree and the invention is furthermore of advantage in thecase of deformations in which the one side of the foot is elevatedeither on the inner side, as usual or on the outer side of the foot.

My present invention has for its purpose an appliance or means adaptedto exert an effort tending to draw the foot into its proper position butwhich effort is according to my invention so transmitted that it isexerted at the particular position at which the deformity occurs, thatis to say in the case of an inturned foot, at a position between theinstep and the ankle. By my invention the deformity is therefore treatedin a far more satisfactory manner than heretofore, in addition to whichthe device or appliance according to my invention is not only such thatit can be worn when the individual or patient is reclining, but it canbe worn and in action While the wearer is standing or Walking. Theapplicability of while the foot is being exercised and the means fordrawing the foot out of its deformed position are of the character thatthey can be systematically tightened or ad-...

justed by gradual degrees to thereby maintain a constant pull upon thefoot which does not decrease as the foot is drawn more to its normalposition.

In order that this invention may be clearly understood and more readilycarried into practice reference may be had to the appended explanatorytwo sheets of drawings, upon which Figure l is a plan of a device orappliance according to the present invention as it appears before beingfitted in position upon the foot. Fig. 2- is a plan of the device orappliance shown in Fig. 1 but illustrating the condition which itassumes when in place upon the foot. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thedevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2 illustrating the separable parts detachedfrom each other. Fig. 4 is a perspective Few of the device or applianceas shown in Conveniently my invention is carried out by the use of aboot or appliance in the form of the body of the boot consisting of thecomplete sole a but with the front or toe of the upper part removed. Allthe upper part b of the boot which embraces or incloses the ankle andall the rear part of the foot to a point at the instep or slightly infront thereof is left intact and so provided that it can be laced up atc to firmly grip that part of the foot or to secure a firm grip upon oraround the ankle. An independent and separable toe cap or member d forthe reception of the front part of the foot is provided (in the case ofthe right foot) with a strap 6 on its left side, said strap beingadapted to be secured to or engaged with a buckle or other clip ordevice f on the left side of the boot body 6. A similar strap 9 may beprovided on the right side. Secured to the underside of the toe cap dand at the right hand side thereof is a second strap h; this latterstrap extends to the right and is adapted to be passed through a stapleor loop 5 secured at the right side to the front part of the sole a.After passing through the said staple or loop the last mentioned strap his taken across the arch or front part of the foot and secured to abuckle, clip or device j at the left side of the sole a or body of theboot. By this arrangement it will be understood that by tightening thestrap it last referred to, the toe cap 65 is by virtue of the staple orloop 2' drawn in a direction to the right while at the same time thebody I) of the boot grips the ankle and as the strap h is tightenedagainst the resistance of the boot body, the front part ofthe foot isdisplaced in relation to the ankle, and not collectively with the anklethereby causing the deformity to be counteracted at the place at whichit occurs.

The straps c and 9 may be secured to the cap or member (Z. at therespective sides thereof, or only one strap a may be used and secured tothe cap at a slightly different position as for instance at what mightbecalled the juncture or point at which the left side meets or runs intothe top. drawings the straps e and 9 may be integral with the cap ormember d and may be formed or constituted of leathern extensionsthereof. As will be seen from the drawing the cap (Z and body I) areconveniently such that together they almost completely cover the foot.In cases in which the cap for instance is of-smaller dimensions somelight leather or other covering might be combined with the top cap andthe body of the boot to completely inclose the foot in the manner of anordinary boot but such covering would be of such a flexible nature as toavoid counteracting the tendency of the strap to pull the foot into itsproper position. For this reason such covering would advantageously notbe connected with the sole, the intention being to provide for anentirely unimpeded movement of the toe cap in relation to the body ofthe boot.

What I claim as my invention anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1.A shoe for deformed feet, comprising in combination, an upper sectionadapted to embrace or grip the ankle portion, a sole immovable withrespect to and carried by said upper section, a cap member for theforward or toe portion of the foot, separable from said upper portionand sole, and means for adjusting said cap with respect to said sole, totreat or counter-act the deformity.

2. A shoe for deformed feet, comprising in combination, an upper sectionadapted to embrace or grip the ankle portion, a sole Or as shown intheimmovable with respect to and carried by said upper section, a capmember for the forward or toe portion of the foot, separable from saidupper portion and sole, a guide means secured to said sole at one sidethereof, a flexible member secured to the corresponding side of said capand adapted to be guided by said guide means, and retaining meanssecured to said sole at the opposite side from said guide means forretain ing said flexible member in an adjusted position, to treat orcounter-act the deformity.

3. A shoe for deformed feet, comprising in combination, an upper sectionadapted to embrace or grip the ankle portion, a sole immovable withrespect to and carried by said upper section, a cap member for theforward or toe-portion of the foot, separable from said upper portionand sole, means adjusting said cap member longitudinally with respect tosaid sole, and separate means for adjusting the cap transversally withrespect to said sole, to treat or counter-act the deformity.

4. A shoe for deformed feet, comprising in combination, an upper sectionadapted to embrace or grip the ankle portion, a sole immovable withrespect to and carried by said upper section, a cap member for theforward or toe portion of the foot, separable from said upper portionand sole, a guide means secured to said sole at one side thereof, aflexible member secured to the corresponding side of said cap andadapted to be guided y said guide means, retaining means secured to saidsole at the opposite side from said guide means for retaining saidflexible member in an adjusted position, flexible means for adjustablyattaching said cap member to said upper section laterally thereof,whereby the former may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to saidsole, to treat or counter-act the deformity.

5. A shoe for deformed feet comprising in combination a sole, meansretaining said sole in a correct position with respect to the limb, acap member for the forward or toe portion of the foot, separable fromsaid sole, and means for adjusting the position of said cap laterallywith respect to said sole, to treat or counter-act the deformity.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses. EDWARD WILLIAM SALT. Witnesses ARTHUR H. BROWN, HoLLIs F.BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. '0.

